WASHINGTON - Living true to the National Guard motto "Always Ready, Always There," nearly 200 District of Columbia National Guard members volunteered to support the Veterans Day "Concert for Valor" which organizers expected to draw an estimated 800,000 attendees to the National Mall.
The mission is familiar to the Capital Guardians - providing traffic control and crowd management during major events..
"We have to be ready to support our community," said Lt. Col. Alexander Shaw, 372nd Military Police Battalion commander. "I am pleased with what we were able to accomplish in a short period of time. Our Soldiers volunteered their Veterans Day holiday to work an event that could rival the crowds we saw during some of the recent inaugurations," he added.
The Soldiers positioned along the major roads that frame the national mall were as much tour guides as they were traffic control officers.
"It's not too busy yet," said Sgt. Maurice Nicholson, 275th Military Police Company sergeant, as he gave directions to one of the hundreds of people enjoying a warm November day. "But it's gonna be a long busy day," he said.
With the expected large crowds, the presence of the Guardsmen help free up police officers to manage law enforcement and spectator safety.
"This is what we do - support and serve," said Sgt. Samuel Campbell, 273rd Military Police Company sergeant. "It's a good feeling to be here. The appreciation of both the law enforcement officials the citizens is a good feeling."